What you should know before becoming "SuperTrucker"... Well, on that fine note I will share with those of you thinking about joining the ranks of many who want to make big money what I found out when I did. First of all, the recruiters never tell you what you need to know to make an informed decision. I asked alot of questions when I met with my recruiter and he either gave me vague answers or avoided answering the questions by referring to the company's website. You gotta know that many of the people who do the recruiting and manage the truckers have been truckers themselves so they know all the fine print about trucking. How to make money at it and all of the pitfalls to avoid. Second, even if you know someone in the business you won't always get the whole story. My husband and I knew someone we trusted in the business and even he didn't give us the whole picture. He had made decent money as a trucker but there are lots of ways that truckers get screwed and he failed to mention alot of these situations. I wonder sometimes if people who have themselves gotten screwed have a hard time admitting that. Maybe they don't want to look stupid or are in denial. Third, you have to make a commitment to make your time investment pay off. Yes, you can make alot of money trucking but not in the first year! If you go to one of the many company schools you have to sign a payback agreement and you start out making anywhere from 26 to 32 cents per mile. All the tricks you don't know yet slow you down, and to make money you have to keep your truck running. Fourth, the trucking industry is highly regulated and truckers are often caught between federal safety rules meant to cut down on trucking accidents and the company's push for fast delivery of loads. The truck driver pays the fines for all minor or major violations of DOT rules not the company. And there are many minor but costly rules to watch out for not to mention the hassle of log books.


So until my next posting whether you drive an 18 wheeler or the family sedan ...Drive the Conditions of the Road not the Speed Limit.